David Hendrickson: Boards for Animals

Name: David Hendrickson

What is your job?

I am the Founder and CEO of Hendrick Boards, an eco-friendly skateboard and apparel company that gives back to local animal shelters and rescues throughout the nation with each and every purchase.

What social causes are most important to you?

Anything and everything animals – from pet adoption programs and animal rescues to animal shelters and nonprofits dedicated to the welfare of pets and animals.

What charies do you support – and how?

Hendrick Boards supports local animal nonprofits throughout the nation. Local animal shelters and rescues are on the frontlines in an effort to save animals and are most in need of our support – whether through donations of money and materials or volunteers.

At Hendrick Boards, we have developed a network of animal nonprofits throughout the nation. With each purchase of a piece of apparel, accessory or skateboard, together we make a contribution to local animal shelters and rescues, based upon the shipping address of the customer. A purchase of a skateboard, for instance, sparks a donation of $7.50 to $15 to a local animal shelter; purchases of apparel triggers a donation from $4 to $7. All funds donated go directly to the care of animals.

Every dollar counts. For every $10 donated, we can feed a shelter dog for an entire month. For every $50 in donations, we can take an animal off the streets and hopefully place him or her into a loving home!

Here are just a handful of the animal nonprofits we support:

Barks of Love: http://barksoflove.org/

ICARE Dog Rescue: http://icaredogrescue.org/

Mainly Monkeys: http://mostlymonkeys.org/

Why do you have a passion for this one in particular, is there a personal tie?

Hendrick Boards is inspired by my own shelter dog, William. I adopted William, a 10-pound chi-mix, 3 years ago at a local shelter I had volunteered at. When William was brought into the shelter at just 6 months old, he had been poisoned by his mother, who had ingested household chemicals. I had been warned that little William was not expected to live more than a few months, and if he did survive, he would require on-going special treatment and care. This only spurred me to adopt him immediately.

After numerous veterinarian visits and ongoing intestinal problems, I gradually nursed William back to health. Just this past May, I launched Hendrick Boards to help other rescue and shelter animals just like William. William is not only my inspiration, but he is the inspiration behind and the face of Hendrick Boards.

Is there a particular way you would want to encourage readers to be involved?

There are so many ways readers can make a real impact on the care and lives of shelter animals. First and foremost, volunteer at your local animal shelter. They are always in need of people to help maintain the facility, feed the animals and transport animals to foster homes or to adoption events. Second, supplies are always in need at animal shelters and rescue programs: from blankets and pet beds to toys and treats. Contact your local shelter to determine what their most pressing needs are. And, shop at www.hendrickboards.com and together we can help shelter animals and rescues everywhere.

How would you define social responsibility?

Social responsibility is a way of life whereby anyone and everyone can make an active choice to create a real and positive impact, however small, on the world around them. With Hendrick Boards, I combined my passion for art with my love for skateboarding to create a venture that makes a real impact on shelter animals everywhere.

Everyone has skills and passions that can be used to create change in their own community. Identify what skills and resources you bring to the table. Select a cause that you are most passionate about. Combine the two and you might just be amazed what you can do!

Do you have any tattoos that relate to your social/charitable beliefs/work?   

I have a four leaf clover on my arm I got shortly after I rescued my dog and best friend, William.  It’s a daily reminder of how lucky I am to have found him and to have this bad ass lil pup as my best friend.

I do have a tattoo I want to get on my forearm. I am going to get a portrait of my rescue pup, William, and have it done by Kat Von D, my favorite portrait artist.